Journal box and axle



June24, 1930.

Fi 07 A o t W C/ INVENTO hf. By H2; 410 m ATTORNEY.

Me 24, 1930. H, w. SANFORD r AL 1,768,004

JOURNAL BOX AND AXLE I Filed April 27, 1927 v 4 snags-sheet 2 dV/fi w cc A /WA/AAA G 4 4 VA w a 4 7 c a w w a v INVENTOR.

June 24, 1930. H. w. SANFORDETI'IAL 1,768,004

JOURNAIL BOX AND AXLE Filed April 27, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet. 3

69 4 a 0%; a C3 O G INVENT R.

ATTORNEY June 24, 1930. H. w. SANFORD ET AL JOURNAL BOX AND AXLE FiledApril 27, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 24, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT series 'TO SANFORD INVESTMENT COMPANY, OF WELMINGTON, DELAVABE, ACORIGBA- TION 01E DELAWARE Application filed April 27,

This invention relates to journal boxes and axles for mine cars andsimilar cars in which the track wheels surround the axle between thebearings which support the car body. The bearing is of the self-aligningtype. p V

The object of the invention is to provide a structure which allowseconomical manufacture and easy assembling and separation of the partsand provides good control of end thrust and also provides goodlubrication.

In the accompanying drawlngs, I

Fig. 1 is an upright view on the axial line of the structure;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the same axial line; I

Fig. 3 is an upright section on the hue, of Fig. 1, looking toward theleft;

Fig. at is an upright section on the line, LP- l, of Fig. 1, lookingtoward the right.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the bearing box;

Fig. 6 is a plan of the pedestal;

. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the box and pedestal with the boltsomltted to show the bearing of the box on the inner edges of thepedestal legs; I I

Fig. 8 is an upright section on the l1ne, 8--8, of Fig. 1, lookingtoward the right;

Fig. 9 is an upright section on the l1ne, 99, of Fig. 1, looking towardthe right;

Fig. 10 is an upright section on thellne, 10'-l0,' of: Fig. 1, lookingtoward the right;

Fig. 11 is an upright section on the line 11-11, of Fig. '1, lookingtoward the right;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section on the line, 12-42, of Fig. l; c

Fig. 13 is an upright section on the line, 13-13, of-Fig. 2, lookingReferring to said drawings, A is the axle of ordinary form, the partshown beingcylindrical. A is the journal. Between the journal and thebody of-the axle is the circumferential flange, A The upper part of thisflange is cut away horizontallyto make a horizontal face, A to receive akey as will-be described further on.

B is the wheel having a hub, B surrounding the journal and having ashoulder,

toward the left.

JOURNAL-BOX AND AXLE 1927. Serial No. 186,959.

B adapted to bear against the outer transverse face of the flange, A

The hub has a flange, B extending in- HUGH W. SANFORD AND HARRY V].JQNES, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNORS ward over and beyond theflange, A The hub flange has a lateral extension, 13*, on which is aninner face, B far enough from the axle to receive a key, B, between theaxle and the face, A On the key is a pin or stud, B extending outwardradially to,

the axle into the socket, B formed in the extension, 3*, of the flange,B It will be observed that whenthis key is in position,

it will bear on the face, Aflformed by cutting away the flange, A andthus hold the hub from turning on the axle, whereby the wheel is madefast on the journal. WVhen .this key and pin are absent, the wheel isloosefree to turn on the journal. When the key and pin are in positionand the,

journal is free from the axle box and pedestal, the wheel maybe movedoutward on the journal, the key sliding on the face, A and on thejournal. hen the wheel has been removed'from the ournal, the key and pinmay be removed from the hub. Then the Wheel may be returned to itsposition to be loose. This provision for rendering the wheel fast orloose is made because some operators of cars having the bearingsdistinct from the wheels prefer to have one wheel free to turn on theaxle, particularly when the tracks on which the cars are used havecurves' Then while traversing curves the wheels may turn independentlyof each other.

The part of the journal which extends outward beyond the wheel hub issurrounded by the bearing box, C. This box has anend Wall, O extendingover the end of the journ'al. The inner end of said box is closed by acap, G which surrounds the journal and also the adjacent end of the hub,B The cap has at each side of the structure a lateral ear, G which bearsagainst a similar ear, C seated on the body of the bearing box. A bolt,C extends through the ears to bind them firmly to each other. Theinterior of the body of the box, C, is cylindrical. The cap, G has anannular shoulder, C, extending into the body of the box, C, and bearingV the journal and the end of the against the inner face of said box. Theengagement thus made tends to prevent the cap from moving transversely011 the end of the body of the box, C. The interior of the 'box is facedwith a steel lining, C Beferential groove, D A ring, D surrounds thejournal, A within those grooves. As will appear further on, this ringserves to keep the rollers within the bearing box when the box isremoved from the journal. I

Opposite the end of the journal, the wall, C is provided with a recess,C in order that end thrust can be taken by the washers, E,

' and the cap, C

In the lowerpart of the bearing box is a reservoir, C, formed bychambering the lower half of the wall of the box. Two ports, C affordcommunication between the reservoir and the interior of the box. A port,C allows passing of lubricant from the reservoir through the cap, C Anannular upri ht flange, C forms a part of the cap and extends close tothe hub, B therebeing a space between said flange and the main wall ofthe cap. A horizontal annular flange, C ,,also surrounds the hub, butthis'fiange is spaced from the hub far enough to receive between thatflange and the hub two metal washers, E and a felt or similar packingwasher, E between the washers, E Four cotters, E extend through theflange, C back of the washers, E and E and hold said washers against theflange, C Said washers, particularly the felt washer, El, are made tofit to the hub sufficiently close to prevent the passing of 4 oil ordust.

In the space enclosed by the flange, C and the end of the hub and themain wall of the cap are two larger washers, E, which are thinner thanthe space between the end of the hub and the cap wall and are loose onthe journal, so that said washers are free to turn on the journal by theoccasional frictional engagement between the washers and hub. Thesewashers are free from each other. Hence each may rotate independently ofthe other.

'Each washer, E, has a radial wing, E

(Fig.4.)

In the upper part of the Wall, C of the axle box a port, F, in which isseated a removable closing member, E, which may be a grease screw inwhich is a spring-controlled .ball valve of welhknown form.

The interior of the hub is provided with between the flange, C

'B, outward on a channel, B extending entirely around the hub to form alubricant reservoir. A horizontal groove, B", is formed in the interiorface of the hub from the reservoir, B to the outer end of the hub andthe washers, E.

Lubricant introduced through the port, F, is received into the spacebet-weenthe end of the journal, A and the adjacent part of the wall, CThence the lubricant moves by gravity into the space between therollers, D, and along the length of the rollers, and some of thelubricant is then carried with the rollers in their movement around thejournal. Some of the lubricant passes downward through the port, C intothe reservoir, C and thence through the port,

'C to the washers, E, and into the space and the main wall of the cap,C. Itis preferable to introduce enough lubricant to cause the filling ofall or the greater part of the reservoir, C". This will effect immersingthe lower rollers, D, in the lubricant and will cause the lubricant torise along the washers, E, to the height of the lower part of thejournalfand thence through the groove, B", into the reservoir, B of thehub. The washers, E and E are intended to substantially prevent theescaping of oil between the cap and the hub. The rotation of thewashers, E, in unison or independently of each other will cause thosewashers to carry oil upward and distribute the oil over all the faces ofsaid washers. This action is aided by the wings, E Thus thesewasherswill be subjected to a minimin of friction through contact witheach other and with the end of the hub and with the adjacent face of themain wall ofthe cap. When there is end thrust tending to move thejournal, A, and the wheel, the car body the hub, B, will press the largewashers, lb, against the main wall of the cap. Under that condition,lubrication of the faces of the washers, E, is needed to reduce frictionbetween the 'meeting faces of the washers and between the right handwasher and the main wall of the cap and between the left hand washer andthe end of the hub.

ner by bolts extending through thebolt holes, From the plate, G arms, Gextend downward at each side of the axle box in position to bear againstthe side of the axle box and against the cars, C To increase the contactbetween these arms and the axle box, each side of the axle box isprovided with an upright bearing face, C The ears serve as abutments forthe pedestal arms.

Below said faces, C, the arms are turned laterally away from each otherand each is provided with an aperture, C, which receive the ends of astirrup red, C. Each end of said rod extends through the adjacentaperture and receives a nut, C The stirrup rod, C is spaced far enoughfrom the lower face of the axle box to allow downward movement of theaxle box or upward movement of the pedestal when the car is passing overirregularities in the rail track. During movement of the car, thepedestal may rock on the summit of the upper face of the axle box formaintaining the alignment of the axle box and the axle and the rollers,D, in the manner already known in this art.

It has already been stated that thrust by movement of the axle boxtoward the wheel hub is taken by the cap, C and the end of the hub andthe washers, E. other direction is taken by the arms, G, and the axlebox ears,

lVhen it is desired to remove the axle box, the stirrup rod, C isremoved from the pedestal arms, G Then that part of the car body israised until the pedestal arms are above the ears, C and C. When thathas been done, the axle box is free to be drawn outward along and offfrom the journal. If the wheel is to be removed, that part of the car isto be raised sufliciently to allow the wheel and axle box to clear thepedestal arms.

The metal washers, E and the packing washer, E may be inserted andremoved when the cotters, E, have been removed.

The washers, E, are to be inserted and removed through the flanges, Cand G, the wings, E, of said washers passing through the notches, C, inthe flange, C (Figs. 2 and 13.)

We claim as our invention,

1. In a structure of the kind described, the combination of a journal,an axle box surrounding the journal .and comprising a body and a capeach having ears at each side of the box, the ears on said body beingpositioned to serve as pedestal arm abutments, means joining adjacentears to each other, and said body having bearing faces at its sides, anda pedestal having rigid downward-directed arms adjacent said bean ingfaces and said abutments.

,2. In a structure of the kind described, the combination of a journal,an axle box surrounding the journal and comprising a body and a cap eachhaving ears at each side of the box, the ears on said body beingpositioned to serve as pedestal arm abutments, means joining adjacentears to each other, and said body having bearing faces Thrust in the atits sides, a pedestal having rigid downward-directed arms adjacent saidbearing faces and said abutments, said arms diverging below said bearingfaces, and a curved stirrup rod supported by the lower parts of H bodyand a cap each having ears at each side of the box, the ears on saidbody bemg positioned to serve as pedestal arm abutments,

and means joining adjacent ears to each oth er and said body havingbearing faces at its sides, and a pedestal having rigiddownward-directed arms adjacent said bearing faces and said abutments,said arms diverging below said bearing faces and terminating above thehorizontal plane of the lowor face of the axle box, and a curved stirruprod supported by the lower parts of said arms.

l. In a structure of the kind described, the combination of a journal,an axle box surrounding the journal and having bearing faces andabutments, a pedestal having rigid downward-directed arms placed formaking engagement with said faces and abutments and diverging below saidfaces, and a stirrup rod below the axle box and supported by saidpedestal arms.

5. In a structure of the kind described, the combination of a journal,an axle box surrounding the journal and having bearing faces andabutments, a pedestal having rigid downward-directed arms placed formaking engagement with said faces and abutments and diverging below saidfaces and i termiua g above the horizontal plane of the lower face ofthe axle box, and a stirrup rod below the axle box and supported. by bysaid pedestal arms.

6. In a structure of the kind described, the combination of a journal,an axle box surrounding the journal and having bearing faces andabutments, a pedestal having rig id downward-directed arms placed formaking engagement with said faces and abutments and diverging below saidfaces and terminating above the horizontal plane of the lower face ofthe axle box, and a stirrup rod below the axle box and extending throughthe lower parts of the pedestal arms.

7. In astructure of the kind described, the combination of a journal, anaxle box surrounding the journal and havingbearing faces and abutments,a pedestal having rigid downward-directed arms placed for makingengagement with said faces and abutments and diverging below said facesand terminating above the horizontal plane of the lower face of the axlebox, and retaining means below the axle box and sup- April, 1927.

ported by the lower parts of the pedestal arms; 8. In a structure of thekind described,

the combination of a journal, an axle box surrounding the ournal andbeing formed at its sides for engaging pedestal arms, a pedestal havingrigid downwardwlirected arms placed at each side of the axle box andterminating above the plane of the lower face of the axle box,-andretaining means below the axle box and supported by the lower parts ofthe pedestal arms.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name, at Knoxville Tennessee, this19th day of April, in the year one thousand nine hundred andtwenty-seven; V

' HUGH SANFORD;

' In testimony whereof I have signed my name at St. Louis, Missouri,this 25th day of HARRY W. JONES.

